Staying safe when lightning strikes

FERGUSON, Mo. (KMOV) – During the late spring and early summer, lightning strikes can be frequent and deadly, and between 3 and 4 a.m. on Wednesday, there were 1,300 lightning strikes in the St. Louis Metro area.

Last year, a city worker was hit in the park while trying to take shelter in a pickup truck. On June 15, 2010, a postal worker in Ferguson was killed by lightning while trying to deliver mail.

The National Weather Service says to avoid the dangers of lightning, stay away from windows and doors. If one is outside, stay away from trees and water.

However, for many who work outside, taking shelter is not always easy. Just a few weeks ago, a police officer was killed sitting in his car in Joplin during intense lightning the day after the tornado.